Jeremiah Mathis Thede denies endangering an aircraft or persons in the aircraft

An airliner pilot who diverted a transatlantic flight after an alleged incident of passenger air rage sparked by a row over salty snacks has defended his decision.

Captain Jands Latura told the trial of Jeremiah Mathis Thede the unscheduled landing in Belfast was the first time in his 30-year piloting career he had changed course due to unruly on-board behaviour.

"I wouldn't have spoken to a woman in that position with those words or in that manner."

Thede, 42, from Berkeley, claimed he had been asleep for an hour when the diverted flight landed at Belfast.

"When they landed I thought we were in Chicago," he said.

Thede told police the decision to divert was "pretty poor judgement".

"I don't understand what kind of threat I could've been to that aircraft," he said.

The airliner carrying 264 passengers was flying to the US on June 20 last year when the captain made the decision to touch down at Belfast.

The plane had to dump thousands of litres of fuel before making the unscheduled stop in Northern Ireland.

As the crew would have exceeded their legal flying hours if the aircraft had resumed the journey straight away, the passengers had to wait almost 24 hours before the plane could take off again, with many having to sleep on the terminal floor.

Thede, dressed in a light grey suit and white shirt, listened from the dock as Mr Latura and Ms Hall gave evidence.

The prosecution concluded its evidence early on Monday afternoon.

The jury was then excused for legal issues to be discussed between the respective parties.